Story and photos by DinaRella
Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Powerboats entered 2024 on a classy note at the Miami Boat Show with its sophisticated 420 Monte Carlo. Finishing off the year at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in more outrageous fashion – it returned to its roots and went out with a 2,000-HORSEPOWER bang named the 4000 Roadster.
The hotly anticipated Supercat starting at $1.25 million was the headliner on the performance dock, but why didn’t it stand out from the competition? The answer is not what you think. Outfitted with four Mercury Racing 500Rs and 10 seats, there simply is no competition. Like something out of a fastboat fairytale… it’s “Beauty” and “Beast” built into one.
Digging into the developmental thought process with Nor-Tech co-owner Trond Schou, he says, “We got into the business to build fast boats. After the market for Vees and cats died in 2008, we were there for the center console takeover. But we still loved fast cats!”
“When the smaller outboard-powered models started to arrive, in my mind there was a market for a big, rough-water cat that performed equally to the older versions power-wise, yet also offered a heightened level of lounging enjoyment like being on a center console. We spent a lot of time testing different ways to make it work. Behind the scenes it was very challenging. Nils (Johnsen) did a great job on the design and now we’re doing the dialing in.”
The Beauty
You may remember the all-mighty, inboard-propelled predecessor in production from 2010 to 2020. Don’t be fooled by the name. Hull dimensions may match the original concept, but the similarities stop there. Much of the 2025 Roadster’s beauty hails from its inner offerings of comfort and convenience conceived from having two separate cabins – something you won’t find on any other cat of this substance.
First off, gone are the days of having to lower yourself down below through the deck hatches. All it takes is popping open eight snaps. To port is a place to escape the elements. You can change your clothes. Guests will find loads of space to store their stuff and the kids can toss all the toys below.
Collecting more kudos yet is the private head, sink and shower to starboard. According to Schou, “It’s a game-changer sealing the deal on many sales, if the wives have any say. They especially love it because after going 125 mph, they can do their hair and fix themselves up before getting to the dock.”
In true Nor-Tech fashion, fit and finish is next-level, from the 4000 branded marine matting to the middle green and black racing stripes down the seats. With this particular hull, its eye-grabbing gray, green and powder blue color scheme adds to its charm in a chameleon-like way, frequently changing shades depending on the angles and the way the sun’s beaming rays radiate off its exterior surfaces.
Even the seating arrangement is a beautiful thing. “The first four seats are the most protected with no wind. I call them first class. The next row is like business class, and the four behind them, I refer to as coach class,” jokes Schou. The thoughtful layout lets you easily walk through to the transom where there’s the option to put in a removable table, as well as, pole inserts around the entire cockpit to set up a sunshade to escape the sun.
The Beast Within
Delving into the power within this beast Schou shares, “The cabins have the girls in mind, but the power is for the boys. We did a lot of testing with world champion tunnel boat racer Shaun Torrente, who has tons of experience. We used his brackets and other products on the boat. Nor-Tech dealers Raymond and Peter Roberts from Canada’s Double R Performance have also been very involved in the set-up.”
When people ask why four outboards? “The fully carbon-fiber boat weighs 9,500 pounds with motors. The extra horsepower is needed for proper acceleration and to maintain the speed with the weight load. Quad engines give it the torque and power twin engine configurations aren’t up to task for,” explains Schou before adding, “The deep tunnel hull has a 250-gallon fuel capacity. It’s definitely rough-water friendly and the immediate acceleration is incredible. We hit 132 mph with six big guys on board during initial testing. It’s capable of going much faster, but with the weight ratios and number of people, we set it up to run 130 mph.”
RDP had plans to get to know the boat better this past week down in Key West, before it heads to its owner in Norway. Unfortunately, Mother Nature stole our thunder with its own, when giving us Tropical Storm Rafael as a mid-week surprise. Hence Nor-Tech opted to not run the boat.
On the bright side, Nor-Tech never rests, and they gave us another notable new ride to report on. Slotted one slip over stealing some of the Roadster’s thunder was milestone build No. 500 of the 399 Sport. Dubbed the King of Clubs and dominating the FPC KW Poker Run, any bets on who the new owners are?
